Drill Team

Marine Corps Junior ROTC Cadets across the nation dedicate countless hours to the close-order drill. It is written into the MCJROTC curriculum as a means of instilling discipline and esprit de corps, and continues to be one of the finest methods for developing confidence and leadership abilities of Cadets. Being in drill requires lots of practice and dedication, and it pays off when cadets come home after a competition and see all the trophies they won. Also, being in drill helps you rank up much higher much faster than all the other cadets. Units compete at local, state, regional and national Drill Team competitions throughout the year. There are a few different types of Drill. Exhibition is rifle spinning. Cadets are usually in teams of two or four or could be individual. They spin full size, 9.5 pound rifles and do as many impressive spins as they can without dropping the rifle. There is such thing as unarmed exhibition, but it is rare, and involves cadets clapping and slapping their legs and arms and stomping on the ground. Unarmed drill teams are 9 or 12 cadet platoons who go through the various drill movements without rifles. Armed drill is the same thing, just with rifles. While fostering a friendly and entertaining environment, these competitions provide MCJROTC Cadets an opportunity to showcase their hours of dedication and tremendous marching skills. Marine Corps JROTC units continue to enjoy success at the annual National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, FL.